Chapter 77: Called it fear.
"If you dare take a step in my father's home, Doris!"
"I'm coming inside be it you like it or not. That is my daughter and and—" Doris stuttered, grieving fear that her daughter could die settled in. Her face went stale with fear... desperate to see to her daughter's needs. "I love her so much, I miss her dearly. You can not possibly be as vile as to leave me here. I gave birth to her, she is my little girl and I can't bare you manipulating her into being a white mans whore."
With that, William had bottled up enough. His hand had been itching to do the unthinkable. He was worried for Panashe and here again he has to continue dealing with Doris. He wondered just how long he would have to deal with her. Everything had been going well until she came with her tantrums. Panashe was doing well until her mother came like the devil she is waiting to take away her happiness.
"Master William, she is heating up..." One of the maids who had been at Panashe's care told him. His heart dropped, he was easily irritable. His son, Christian was asking what was wrong with his mom. William's nephews and Liam were all concerned with questions. Addie seemed too startled to even form a sentence. Her only thoughts were her mother was at the lunatic asylum and now the only woman he had considered calling mother was passed out? Dying? Whatever it could be. Doris was being a piece of dung.
"I will be right there.." He replied. For a second he thought of losing her. He thought of life without her, if something happened to her. He has never in his life loved someone more than he loved Panashe. William did not want to jump into conclusions but it solemnly hurt to think that he could lose her just when he had got her. All the years he had spent apart, away from her. All the years he had wasted living a lie. It all filled him up with sorrow and regret. He was sure it could not have been anything serious, possible shock triggered by her mother's conundrums.
"You know what you did to my daughter! Do not act all shocked with those beady colored eyes! You know exactly what you did to my daughter. This won't end well, your fairytale will soon be over when you get arrested for all this indecency. It's so unfortunate that when it all comes to light, my daughter will be the one to suffer the most for being with you. Worse that she will be with child. This secret you keep won't remain in the ranch forever, this little fairytale secret of letting a negro reside with you will end tragically. I pray they find out sooner that you're breaking the law. I loathe you William, you have ruined my daughter with your selfish ways and you continue to ruin her. You're no good for her. If you really cared about her well being, you would let her return home with her son and leave. Go be with your lunatic wife. You suddenly care and you're concerned with my daughter's health? Was it not you who made her work till after dawn while pregnant? Was it not you-you monster! Where were you when she was giving birth? Just where? Surely dining and playing family with that psycho you called wife. I may be a bad person yes? I have done what I have done but you're just as horrible. You and I are both villains in Panashe's life and for you to play charming Prince as if you have always cared? You're despicable. It must be nice to just come back now when your offspring is now grown? Now walking, now eating on his own? It must be wonderful to just come back when things are all good. You were not there when that little boy was sick... when Panashe did not know what to do. When Panashe had to work and take care of that child. Do not think for a second I do not know what you did... you raped her. She sure as hell did not plan on getting pregnant especially not with your offspring." Doris hiccuped after emotionally yelling her eyes filled with tears, her chest heaving heavily. William was consumed with guilty and just as much anger. He was consumed with embarrassment as they weren't the only people around. He was reminded of all his deeds and for a second he could only think... 'you may be right Doris, we're both villains...'
"This is all your fault, nothing else could possibly be wrong with her except she is yet again pregnant! You're a shameless man William, I curse the day you came into my daughter's life—" At the word pregnant more and more people gasped. William could not bottle it in as his anger gave him enough anger in oneself to struck his mother in law on one cheek. It went quiet. Doris opened her eyes wide, she could not believe that he had done that as she held onto her burning cheek. Everyone whom had been watching, from all corners went silent. With a constricted throat and awkward stance, William called two of the stable men. Whispering in authority, the two men listened carefully to his instructions. Without a second thought the two men began to drag Doris away from the Gallagher home. She did not let go without a fight, she kicked and yelled for the other negroes to help her, yelled insults at William. She yelled at him with so much hate, quickly changing her mind she yelled asking for forgiveness, she cried as dust raveled her clothes. Fighting the two men that were pulling her towards a dingy dirty carriage. Everyone else could only watch with no words. Fearing they would be next. Never in their lives had they ever seen William as angry as he was in that moment.
"There is nothing to back-fence talk here. Please be off, unless you fancy joining Doris at the next auction. I will not tolerate any whispers about my wife... be warned." William announced bitterly. With that everyone pretended to continue doing what they were doing. Even if their hearts were beating faster than galloping horses with fear. Master Joshua had always been the cruel one to sell off slaves, but William? It was astounding that he would do such. Especially the slave that had been close to his father... to the point that he protected her secret. William has always been the good brother but it seemed he had been pushed far off.
—
"...uhm she is asleep, her heating has went down. It was just a minor fever." William told his mother who nodded with relief.
"Was Doris right?" Lady Martha furrowed her eyebrows. William did not reply. This was supposed to be a happy moment for him and Panashe but here they were. "William, with the way everything has been taking place. I do not reckon it was a good idea. She might be a free woman but... it's still a crime. Second offense with Christian in counting."
"I'm sick and tired of all this everything, mother. I'm just sick of it." William let out. His voice strained and threatening to break.
"People are starting to whisper around town William..."
"Let them!"
"Soon enough we will be getting visitors from the patrolmen."
"What do you reckon I do then? What exactly should I do? Be an arsehole again, repeat the cycle of making her pregnant then leaving. What exactly do you expect of me mother? My wife and I could leave if that's the crunch."
"That's not what I meant... ofcourse you're both welcome here. I'm simply a little alarmed..."
"May I have a moment to myself..?" William politely asked his mother to leave. She was hesitant but listened regardless and turned on her heel. For a moment William broke, he hated this. He hated this world of injustice. He hated living in fear for someone he loved. He hated it all, with every tear he broke down into helplessness. He wished times and circumstances had been different.